Unitary traffic control



P 1931. D. E. WESCQTT 1,824,973

UNITARY mums CONTROL Filed Dec. 20, 1926 QM mcnrot @lrc may Patented Sept. 29, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DANA E. WESCOTT, OF SO'O'TH BEND, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO SOUTH BEND CURRENT CONTROLLER COMPANY, A FIRM COMPOSED OF DANA E. WESCOTT, SOLE TRADER UNITARY TRAFFIC CONTROL Application filed December 20, 1926. Serial No. 155,848.

My invention relates to improvements in unitary trailic controls, and it more especially consists of the features pointed out in the annexed claim.

The. purpose of my invention is to provide a unitary control for trafiic signals, etc., which is exceedingly simple in construction, in operation and up-keep; that uses only a single control wire in contrast to the usual four and six wire systems; that is reliable under all working conditions; that is positive in action; that may be connected to either one of the leads in a three wire A. C. circuit whose neutral is grounded, or any other source .of'current; and that because of its dependability avoids traffic jams frequently experienced with ineflicient traffic controls as installed heretofore. 7

With these and other ends in view, I illustrate in the accompanying drawings such an instance of adaptation as will disclose the broad underlying features of my invention without limiting myself to the specific details shown thereon and described herein.

Figure 1 is an elevation in partial section of a control solenoid, showing diagrammatic circuit relations.

Fig. 2 is a detached plan view of the signal lamp contacts and the contacting finger of Fig. 1.

Fig. 2a is a detached bottom plan View of the upper notched sleeve showing the cooperating cross pin which intermittently moves the selecting finger in a rotary direction.

' form ofmagnetic actuating device which is served by a single wire from a timing contactor 22 located at a central control station so as to simultaneously successively close the circuits of any number of interconnected signal lamps 14, and 16 in orderly and recurring sequence. The solenoid exemplified in Fig. 1 has an armature 2 of permeable material adapted to move to and fro in the solenoid.

The armature has a non-magnetic stem 3 to which, at its lower end, the finger 7 is attached. The to and fro movement of the armature is translated into an intermittent repetitive rotary movement, in a step by step sequence, by means of a pin 6 secured crosswise of the armature stem 3 whenever current is sent to the solenoid 1 from the control station. Oppositely notched sleeves 4 and 5 surround the stem 3 and they are positioned respectively above and below the cross pin 6.

An .inward movement of an armature 2 under a current impulse from the control station causes the attached cross pin to engage apairof saw tooth. notches formed on the under side of the sleeve 4. This produces a half-step rotation which at the end of the inward movement shifts the finger 7 toward one of the under springs 9 so as to press it against an upper contact spring 8 and thus close the circuit leading to the corresponding signal lamp. The finger 7 is clamped onto the stem 3 so that it may be adjusted to properly register with the notches of the sleeves 4 and 5 and the contact strips 9. It carries an adjustable screw for moving the lower contact strips 9 against the upper strip 8.

The springs 8 and 9 are insulated from each other. There are four under springs 9 and four upper springs 8. These, grouped in pairs, in cooperation with the finger 7, respectively serve a red traffic signal lamp 14, an amber lamp 15 and a green lamp 16 through separate wires 13 leading from springs 8 to the different lamps. One pair of springs is connected to a red lamp; the next pair, in a rotative sense, serves an amber lamp; the next pair a green lamp; and the next pair an amber lamp again, while a fourth movement of the finger 7 completes the entire revolution of the selector, thus again connecting a red lamp ready to intermittently repeat the cycle.

Each outward movement of the armature causes the cross pin 6 to engage a pair of saw tooth notches formed on. the upper edge of the sleeve which shifts the pin 6 and the finger 7 forward another half-step, thus making a ninety degree change in position of these parts for each completed to and fro movement-of the armature.

The. .details of this step and repeat action may of'course be varied as desired. Any other order or sequence of signals maybe used, as my invention in its broadest sense is not limited totrafiic signal controls. The

simplicity of its single wire hook-up adapts it to any other purpose in which selective signalling or the intermittent remote con r The contact-springs .9 of each control may be supplied with currentyin common by a 7 wire 12 connected =toathesingle line 10. The

Wires 12:1ead towtherespective springs 9., so

that Whenever a finger 7 successively moves springs 9, into contact with springs 8,1-current will .fiowjover wires 13 to .therespective signal lamps 14, issue 16 or-other.u'ti1ities, and vfrom thence .toany'form ofgrojund connection 17. Should a group of controls for any reason get out of step, :;any kind of a resetting switch =may;be used to restore the orderly progression of the signals.

In contrast to the extreme simplicity of my system, the inevitable increase of wires with a fourwviresystemzis obvious. -A fur.- ther complexity and increased cost through the use of a six 'wire system inevitably follows. Both of these ordinary systems-are entirely replaced by my single wire :operationof separate controls. 7

' The operation of my systemisias follows: At the control station any desired form of timer rofia =well'known type imay be used. These devices permit-"of an adjustment of the signal lampcontactssoas to change the lighting duration of the red, amber and greenlamps in'respect'to each other, accordto the. trafiic regulations of different cities- When the red contact of the timer is in circuit, the single line '10 connected to all :the selectors or controls 1 supplies current to all of them simultaneously without the use of extra accessories. of any :kind Whatever. The next or amber contact of the timer similarly supplies current to all theconnected amber lamps. Thenext contact of the timer places all the green lamps in circuit. Anothershiftof the timer again brings ithe a-mber lights into action as has cated anclexpensiveicircuit relations used heretofore, which through inherent weakness frequei' tly cause annoying and expensive trafiic jams, its features are claimed in the broadest interpretative sense.

What I claim is: V i A control switch comprising a solenoid 'magne't, a tubular extension therefrom, a

pair of oppositely notched sleeves entirely enclosed within theextension and positioned inspaced-apart relation from each other, a permeable "core Withinthe magnet, an extension; of the core projecting through the notched tubes a cross pin on the core lex tensionoperative between the notched tubes, a ;base through which the core extension projects, a. plurality of narrow contact strips beneath theibase arranged in pairs-and side by side ,-anadjustable arm securedto the core extension at its lower end, coordinated with the notches and contact strips. 4 j I In testimony whereoi I aifix signature.

" DANA E. lJV ESCOTT ice 

